When you think of Barcelona, what do you think of? Delicious tapas? Vibrant night life? Strolling down Las Ramblas? If you are like many people, the name “Gaudi” may also come to mind. Antoni Gaudi may be the most famous Catalan architect in the world – the man responsible for some of the […]
Putting Gaudi in Context Read More »
It started a few months ago, although I don’t remember exactly when. It may have been while I was strolling through the streets of Tashkent or it might have happened as I tried to fall asleep on the brutally hot train through western Kazakhstan. By the time I reached Riga in mid-September, the refrain echoed
I have to admit, when I planned to stop in Barcelona, I was looking forward to rediscovering the city I first visited back in 2003. I wanted to visit La Sagrada Familia, stroll along Las Ramblas and finally make my way to the Parc Guell. And I wanted to indulge in tapas, tapas and more
Barcelona: City of Chocolate Read More »
Early on in my career break, I came up with a list of “must-do” activities or experiences for my travels through the former Soviet Union. These were some of the things that had been floating around in my mind for months, even years – the things that I wanted to do no matter what. Here
My Soviet Sojourn Bucket List: How Did I Do? Read More »
By the time I boarded my flight out of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on September 16, I was ready to say goodbye to Central Asia. My three months in the region left me physically and mentally exhausted and all I could think about was getting back home. I struggled through difficult border crossings. I endured hot, sweaty
7 Things I Love About the ‘Stans Read More »
It was like déjà vu all over again. I arrived in Riga, Latvia in mid-September – after three months of travel in Central Asia, visiting some of the most remote places on my itinerary and experiencing some of the most basic conditions. I longed for a taste of the West – literally and figuratively. I
Feeling at Home in Riga: The Funky Hostel & Apartments Read More »
“Well, it looks like you’ve been gone for a while,” observed the officer sitting behind the passport control desk at the Atlanta airport. “Yes, 13 months,” I said with a smile. He looked at me inquisitively before asking a series of questions: Where did I go? Who “sponsored” me? What did I do? Why? I
Reverse Culture Shock? Not So Much. Read More »
In some ways, walking down the streets of Tashkent, Shymkent or Bishkek doesn’t feel all that different from a stroll through the center of any city in the United States or Europe. You pass a variety of stores, restaurants, government buildings and shopping malls. The people around you are likely headed to work or to
It’s a Bazaar Life Read More »
I recently wrote a post for BootsnAll.com about why a “gap year” should come to America. I explained how, as I traveled around the world during my recent career break, I often encountered travelers from other countries who have traveled a lot more than I have. Whether they hailed from Australia, New Zealand, the United
5 Reasons Why You Should Take a Career Break to Travel Read More »
Visiting countries like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan tend to take you back in time. Life in the small villages is so much simpler than our life today in the United States – but I suspect it isn’t all that different from life in much of the United States just 100-200 years ago. Extended families living within
A Morning at the Karakol Animal Market Read More »
